The Grenada gazette., 1887-12-31
sARBATAI SEvvS CAREER.
History Of the False Messiah Of the Jews
Of Asia Minor.


} History Of the False Messiah Of the Jew
Of Asia Minor.
! Sabbath Sevi was SmyrniOte jew,
born in 1925. and the son of a broker
in that city; he was clever youth and
so we'll versed in the Cabnla and other
Jewish books that at the age Of eight
cen he was made a rabbi. Doubtless
some accounts Of the fiflh-monarchy
men, and the then mnch-accrcdited re.
port that the Messiah was TO reap
pear in 1866. reached Smyrna and
worked upon his Imagination so much
that he decided TO make himself out
to bc that Messiah. and to assist his
object he secretly caused reports to be
promulgated to the effect that proph-
ct would shortly appear who would
rob the Sultan of his crown and restore
again the kingdom of Israel. When
he thought that the right time had
come. to the .dismay of the Smyrniote
rabbis he pronounced the name
jehovah aloud in open conclave.
for which offense he was sum-
moned before a tribunal and con.
demned to die, but doubtless he had
been prepared for this and had ar.
rangcmcnts made for his escape from
Smyrna, and, with one object in view.
he went as pilgrim to Egypt and
Jerusale lem. where he chose as his Elijah
one Nathan Benjamin. man Of as
cetic life. who profcssed to see visions.
Before returning to Smyrna he sent
his attendant Nathan before him to
prepare the way. and in the capacity
Of second St. John the Baptist to an
nounce that he was coming to deliver
men from the oppression Of the Turks
and to lead back the Jews to Palestine.
Nathan did his work well, writing
circular letter addressed to the Rem.
nant Of tho Israelitcs, peace without
end" the result being that intense
and mad excitement seized upon the
jews Of that place. They nearly
killed themselves with penances; they
administered to one another thirty
nine lashes and tortures of all kinds;
and an influential Jew. Pennia by
name. whose daughter prophesied and
wrought miracles, assisted Nathan in
his work of preparation.
In due time Sabbath Sevi landed at |
Smyrna, styling himself the ''king of
kings and SO carried away were the
people with his adroit eloqueEce that |
q throne was set up for him in the
and from Smyrna proph-
,ts were sent all over the Turkish
lominions to all the Jewish colonies
% preach that 'the true Messiah of
he race of David was come, and that
o him the crown and the kingdom
vas given" At this juncturc Sevi
'entured to elect from among his
rusted followers twelve princes, who
we're to act as generals to the twelve
ribes on their journey back 10 their
ountry, and. as we know from En-
'lish records. the report reached even
s far as to our shores, and that there
ras some talk of sending English
hips TO assist in the transport, and
ven the skeptic Spinoza, from all he
card, was at one time inclined
D waver in his disbelief. The
Genes of frenzicd excitement in
myrna were intense; business was
ntirely suspended and gave place to
agcr fanatical worship Of Sevi; |
resents poured in to him from all ,
arts, until at length the Sultan was !
'used to action and summoned him
Adrianople. The story Of Sevi's !;
lterview with the Sultan is we'll /,
nown, and how the holy, noble and !,
vine Messiah" was ordered by that !
,tentate to choose between throo !.
ings-either TO work miracle and :
lereby prove his identity, or to have ,
rec poisoned arrows shot at him by :,
e Sultan himself or TO become a y
ohammedan. II am follower of :,
ohammedan." replied Sevi to this !, =
st. and, turning to his followers. !;
no were dismayed beyond measure :
the collapse Of their hero. he added,
,SaI En.